Polianthes plant named ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Polianthes  plant named ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’, characterized by its upright plant habit; numerous double-type flowers that are light lilac pink in color; flowers arranged on upright and strong flower scapes; pleasant fragrance; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Polianthes hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CHIA NONG PINK SAPPHIRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Polianthes plant, botanically known as Polianthes hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’.

The new Polianthes plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 1997 in Chiayl City, Taiwan of a proprietary selection of Polianthes tuberosa×Polianthes howardii identified as code number 77-A-05, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Polianthes tuberosa ‘Double’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Polianthes plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chiayl City, Taiwan in 1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new Polianthes plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Puli, Taiwan since 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Polianthes plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Polianthes have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’ as a new and distinct Polianthes plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Numerous double-type flowers that are light lilac pink in         color.     -   3. Flowers arranged on upright and strong flower scapes.     -   4. Pleasant fragrance.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Polianthes differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Polianthes have double flowers whereas         plants of the female parent selection have single flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Polianthes have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Polianthes and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Polianthes differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Double’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Polianthes are more         compact than inflorescences of plants of ‘Double’.     -   2. Plants of the new Polianthes and ‘Double’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Double’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Polianthes can be compared to plants of Polianthes tuberosa ‘The Pearl’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Polianthes and ‘The Pearl’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Polianthes were taller than plants of ‘The         Pearl’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Polianthes were longer than         leaves of ‘The Pearl’.     -   3. Plants of the new Polianthes had longer inflorescences with         more flowers per inflorescence than plants of ‘The Pearl’.     -   4. Plants of the new Polianthes and ‘The Pearl’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘The Pearl’ had white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Polianthes plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Polianthes plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer in ground beds and containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lisse, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Polianthes production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 18° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Polianthes hybrida ‘Chia Nong Pink     Sapphire’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Polianthes             tuberosa×Polianthes howardii identified as code number             77-A-05, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Polianthes tuberosa ‘Double’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at soil             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 25 days at             soil temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; grey in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.         -   Rhizomes.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             N199C and 200C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous flowering perennial             plant; upright plant habit with strong upright flower             scapes; leaves and flowering stems basal with leaves along             the flower scapes; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 102.7 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 44.2 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Leaves arranged in a basal             rosette and along flower scape; leaves simple and sessile.         -   Leaf length, rosette leaves.—About 35.8 cm.         -   Leaf width, rosette leaves.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Leaf length, flower scape leaves.—About 16.5 cm.         -   Leaf width, flowering scape leaves.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ligulate.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate, decurrent.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 143C and             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B;             venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 143C; main vein, close to 144B; secondary             veins, close to 137B to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Double-type flowers             arranged in terminal racemes supported on strong upright             scapes; flowers face upright to slightly outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about 46 flowers developing per             inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; pleasant and sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four             months after planting; flowering continuous from early             August into September in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about one week the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Oblong to oblanceolate. Color: Close to 75C to 75D;             towards the apex, tinged with close to 148C; towards the             base, close to 145A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 46.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Perianth.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically six outer             segments arranged in two whorls and about 18 inner segments             arranged in three whorls; lower 20% of the segments are             fused into a narrow tube; upper free part of segments             flaring outwardly. Outer segment length: About 5.4 cm. Outer             segment width: About 1 cm. Outer segment lobe shape:             Oblanceolate. Outer segment apex: Acute. Outer segment             margin: Entire. Outer segment texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat velvety. Outer segment             color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 69D heavily             dotted with close to 70B; towards the base, close to 145A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 75D slightly dotted             with close to 70A; apex tinged with close to 153D; towards             the base, close to 145A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 69D heavily dotted with close to 70B; white axial central             band, close to 155C; towards the base, close to 145A. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 159D moderately dotted with             close to 63B; apex tinged with close to 153D; towards the             base, close to 145A. Inner segment length: About 5 cm. Inner             segment width: About 9 mm. Inner segment lobe shape:             Oblanceolate. Inner segment apex: Acute. Inner segment             margin: Entire. Inner segment texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat velvety. Inner segment             color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69C             to 69D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69D             heavily dotted with close to 70B; towards the base, close to             145A.         -   Peduncles (flower scapes).—Length: About 93.8 cm. Diameter:             About 7.5 mm. Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143B covered with thin             waxy layer, close to 138B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect:             About 30° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Flower bracts.—Arrangement: One at the base of the pedicel.             Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Narrowly             deltoid. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; towards the             margins, close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             none or one. Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color:             Close to 69D and NN155C. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong;             dorsifixed. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close             to 150D. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 4A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: None or one.             Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.4 cm.             Style color: Close to NN155C to NN155D. Stigma shape:             Clavate. Stigma color: Close to NN155C to NN155D. Ovary             color: Close to 1458.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Polianthes. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Polianthes have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Polianthes plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Polianthes have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 32° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Polianthes plant named ‘Chia Nong Pink Sapphire’ as illustrated and described. 